Pillars, walls and buildings

Abstract

A structural member comprises a soil-retaining sheet having two antipodal edges, means for joining the two antipodal edges when proximately positioned to maintain the sheet in a tubular configuration, and a column of soil retained within the tubular configuration of the sheet. One or more of the structural members when positioned substantially upright can be used to form a pillar. A plurality of horizontally-adjacent pillars can be used to form a wall which together with other walls can be used to form a building particularly adapted to desert location.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A structural member comprising at least one substantially smooth, linear tube, each tube comprising a material having sufficient tensile strength to retain a column of soil in pillar-like configuration, the tubular configuration having a waisted cross-section, each tube positioned substantially upright having an upper end and a lower end, a minor portion of each tube extending downward into the soil immediately surrounding the lower end of each tube, and a column of soil retained within each tube. 
     
     
       2. A structural member comprising at least two substantially smooth, linear tubes positioned horizontally adjacent, each tube comprising a material having sufficient tensile strength to retain a column of soil in pillar-like configuration, each tube positioned substantially upright having an upper end and a lower end, a minor portion of each tube extending downward into the soil immediately surrounding the lower end of each tube, each horizontally-adjacent tube has differing cross-sections, a first tube having a substantially circular cross-section, each tube immediately adjacent to the first tube having a waisted cross-section, and each tube immediately adjacent to any waisted cross-section tube, having a substantial circular cross-section and a column of soil retained within each tube. 
     
     
       3. A structural member comprising at least two substantially smooth, linear tubes positioned horizontally adjacent, each tube comprising a material having sufficient tensile strength to retain a column of soil in pillar-like configuration, each tube positioned substantially upright having an upper end and a lower end, a minor portion of each tube extending downward into the soil immediately surrounding the lower end of each tube each horizontally-adjacent tube further comprising a plurality of tubes positioned coxially one above the other, each lower tube having a cross-sectional area greater than each next adjacent upper tube, and a column of soil retained within each tube. 
     
     
       4. The structural member of claim 3 wherein each lower tube is joined to each next adjacent upper tube by means for sealing the soil within the tube. 
     
     
       5. The structural member of claim 3 wherein the upper end of each uppermost tube further comprises cap means for containing the soil within the tube. 
     
     
       6. A wall comprising a plurality of horizontally-adjacent pillars, each pillar comprising at least one substantially smooth, linear tube, each tube filled with soil, each tube made of a material having sufficient tensile strength to retain the soil in pillar-like configuration, each tube positioned substantially upright having an upper and a lower end, a minor portion of each tube extending downward into the soil immediately surrounding the lower end of the tube, a first of said horizontally-adjacent pillars having a substantially circular cross-section, each pillar immediately adjacent to the first pillar having a waisted cross-section, and each pillar immediately adjacent to any waisted cross-section pillar having a substantially circular cross-section. 
     
     
       7. A desert-building comprising a plurality of walls, each wall comprising a plurality of horizontally-adjacent pillars, each pillar comprising a plurality of substantially smooth, linear tubes positioned coaxially one above the other, each lower tube having a cross sectional area greater than each next adjacent upper tube, each tube filled with soil, each tube made of a material having sufficient tensile strength to retain the soil in pillar-like configuration, each tube positioned substantially upright having an upper and a lower end, a minor portion of each tube extending downward into the soil surrounding the lower end of each tube, a substantially linear sheet of material being fixed tangentially to a plurality of said horizontally-adjacent pillars. 
     
     
       8. The desert building of claim 7 further comprising a roof structure supported by the plurality of pillars. 
     
     
       9. The desert building of claim 8 wherein the roof structure is further supported by a plurality of tension cables and sand bags placed on top of the roof structure and the plurality of columns. 
     
     
       10. The desert building of claim 7 for use as a desert greenhouse comprising a roof structure of substantially transparent plastic sheets supported by the plurality of pillars, these sheets descending from the tops of the plurality of pillars on every side of the structure thereby creating an area completely enclosed by the plastic sheets preventing any escape of water except the minimal amounts transpiring through the plastic sheet.